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| Roky Erickson headlines FD/GD 2013 |
local label thumbs its nose at November
by Bryce Dunn
Let’s face it, as the end of the year draws nigh in Vancouver most of us wanna hunker in our bunkers until March and not come out until the apocalyptic clouds part like Moses parting the Red Sea. Thankfully, LA-TI-DA Records is once again giving the gig-going public ample reason to bundle up and brave the elements by hosting another epic seasonal shaker in the form of the Fall Down/Get Down Weekender November 14-17.
Even before the dust settled on last year’s line-up, many were asking if a sophomore stab was in the works as hard lessons were being learned with every step. This time out, according to Tim Horner (along with label partner Dale Davies and LTD team members Corey Poluk and Vanessa Dandurand), they want to “make sure to slow down, pace ourselves and enjoy the damn thing this year. Last year, the workload was crippling and often meant that we didn’t have the opportunity to take in a line-up that we worked so hard to curate.” They seem to have solved this issue with a slightly scaled down, less scattered, devoid-of-overlap program, but in the same breath have not skimped on the talent in the least.
“But the heart of this fest,” concedes Horner, “rests firmly in the local scene. There are two central themes this year: local record release parties and local debut shows.” Introducing themselves during the festivities will be Mike & the Flintettes (featuring folks from the Tranzmitors, Vancougar and Weathered Pines), Charm (starring the hard-rockin’ ex-Hard Feelings rhythm section of Rick O’ Dell and Al Boyle) and Sunday Morning (sporting members from such legendary Mint Records bands as Tankhog and Pluto among its ranks).
Not content on hogging the spotlight for themselves, the crew at LTD is turning over the majority of Saturday’s soiree to the aforementioned Mint Records and Mammoth Cave Records for conjunctive record release shows for their respective acts Tough Age and Nervous Talk. Sunday’s finale will most certainly blow minds with the man who pioneered psychedelic rock, Roky Erickson, and the gloom-country crooner King Dude.
With the addition of DJ Russell Quan (the musical “Mummy”-fied mayor of San Francisco) spreading some good time record spinning fun and a gaggle of other great local acts, you can’t let this opportunity slip to help LA-TI-DA Records give November the middle finger and make some magic happen.
“Showcasing the LTD bands is honestly just a bit piece to this festival,” admits Horner. “If there’s any sort of aim, it’s to shake things up [in Vancouver] a little. The hurdles are not logistical: putting on Fall Down/Get Down is like solving a giant Sudoku puzzle. We really like solving Sudoku puzzles. The real hurdles run a little deeper in the collective consciousness.” Horner sums up the feeling of anticipation ahead of the upcoming event with some prophetic words from one of last year’s participants. “I think Tim Kerr put it best after returning to Austin from last year’s festival: ‘I wanted to say thanks to all in Vancouver that came and helped with the shows. You all have a really great scene going there… don’t get jaded and fuck it up!’ ”
And that’s the truth, Ruth. Get thee to www.latidarecords.com/the-fall-downget-down or check the LA-TI-DA Records’ Facebook page for the all the latest info including the full list of performers, then score a weekend wristband for $49 (+ S/C) and have some goddamn fun!
LA-TI-DA Records Presents FALL DOWN/GET DOWN 2013 NOV.14-17 at Biltmore Cabaret/Neptoon Records/Astoria Pub/Electric Owl Social Club.
